Ship



April 24, 1945. J E, SYKE 2,374,467

' SHIP Filed'June 12, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet l er} v 9 Inventor J. E. SYKES April 24, 1945.

.SHIP

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SHIP

Filed June 12, 1945 5 Sheets-Shee t 4 a F] n Inventor J. E. SYKES April 24, 1945.

VSHIP Filed June 12, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor w a @w W W O .m, m fi HW Patented Apr. 24, 1945 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE SHIP James E. Sykes, Seattle, Wash. I Application June 12, 1943, Serial No. 490,649

,2 Claims. (01. 114-665) The present invention relates to new anduseful improvements in ships and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a sea going combination cargo and passenger vessel of the character described which, when underway, is adapted to plane on the water at great'speed. I

Another very important obj ectof the invention is to provide an ocean going vessel of the aforementioned character whichembodies novel propulsion means. i 3

I Still another very important object of the invention is to provide an ocean going ship ofthe y plane type wherein the entire hull of the vessel is completely closed.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a ship of the character set forth which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, sea worthy, and which may be constructed and operated at low cost. I

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l he view in side elevation of a ship constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through the vessel, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view in front elevation.

Figure 5 is a rear elevational view.

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view.

Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are cross-sectional views, taken substantially on the lines -'I-I, 8-8, 9-9 and Ill-Ill, respectively, of Figure 3.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, showing means for turning the airplane and holding it in any position to which it is turned. 7

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a closed, stream-lined hull of suitable dimensions which is designated generally by reference numeral I. The hull I includes spaced inner and outer walls 2 and 3, respectively. Braces 4 are provided'between the inner and outer walls 2 and 3 of the hull I.

Fore and aft control cabins 5 and 6, respec tively, are provided on the bow and stern ofthe hull I. I. Mounted at suitable locations on the hull I are gun turrets "I. Also mounted on the hull I is a plurality of search lights 8. Catwalks 9 are provided on the sides of. the hull I. Hatches I0 provide access to the huh I.

, Extending longitudinally in the hull I-is a vertical partition II. Built into thepartition II is an air supply a and discharge conduit I2 from which air may betaken and forced to the various parts of the ship and to which the spent air may be delivered for discharge at the rear end of the ship, which conduit extends from end to end of the hul1.I. Transverse bulkheads I3. at longitudinally spaced points provide chambers or compartments 'I4Jin the'hull I Asillustrated to advantagein Figure 7 of the drawings, tracks I5 in the from of I beams are mounted transversely in the hull I adjacent certain of the hatches Ill. Booms I6 are suspended from the tracks I5 and operable thereon through the medium of carriages H. The booms I6 are adapted to be projected laterally through the adjacent hatches to facilitate placing in position suitable gang planks I9 for loading or unloading the vessel. Suitable tackle 20 is provided for supporting the booms I6 in extended position. Any desired means, as at 2|, may be provided for operating the booms I6.

As best seen in Figure 3 of the drawings, hull I further includes a suitable number and arrangement of decks 22. Twin rudders 23 are mounted beneath the stern of the vessel. Also mounted beneath the stern portion of the vessel are triple screw propollers 24. Diesel engines 25 in certain of the compartments I4 drive the propellers 24.

Mounted longitudinally beneath the aft portion of the hull I and extending at a forward inclination relative to the bottom thereof is a hydrofoil 2-6. Plates 2'! rigidly support the surface 28 of the hydrofoil 26. Mounted longitudinally beneath the surface 28 of the hydrofoil 26 are three spaced, parallel'keels 29. As seen in Figure 6 of the drawings, the outer keels 29 are comparatively long. 7 Longitudinal T irons 30 beneath the surface 28 further strengthen the hydrofoil 26.

Mounted on the forward portion of the hull I, rearwardly of the cabin 5, is a turntable 3|. A multi-motored airplane 32 is fixed on the tumtable SI. It will be observed that the airplan 32 comprises a plurali-ty of tractor and pusher propellers. Any suitable means may be provided to turn the airplane 32 and to hold it in any position to which it is turned. A means of elementary form, not forming a specific part of the present invention per se,is shown in Figure 11, and inini-any suitablemanner. The partitions! I However whenvthe lship is underwayeatisea the airplanej32 constiitutes the propulsion means. The airplane 32 pulls the hull I forwardly and raises the bow thereof from the water, causing said hull to plane on the hydrofoil 26. The construction and arrangement of the hydrofoil 26 beneath the aft portion of the hull I issuchthat great stability as well as high" speed is had. When the airplane 32 is not in =use,-as the vessel is moving in a harbor, said airplane ,is turned in a horizontal plane in a circle of 90 degreesathroughwthe mediumiaof 'the turntable Ttxl' for 'hara'lilel mg the wring of. said: airplane: to r the hull ii. The airpletnmmayctbe turned and operrated at: the same :time :iorrassistmg maneuvering the vessel. The turntable-r31 maytbe ioperalted i unstitutes a::gir.derforrstrengtheniing the hull l ..-longitndinal'ly against sagging; or buckling fwhen 115118 bow is raised :by-cthe zalrpl'ame'iki.

tilt: is. :helieveddthat the many: advantages 10f :a ship iconstructedgzin accordance :with theapresent invention will be:reaudily nsundersim)0d. and 43.1- t-heng h aprefemedz embodiment is.:as illustrated and :described; is to :be :mrderstood rthat uhanges in the details of constructionirandfin:theucombinationandzariiangementznfmarts mayzbe; resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A ship comprising, in combination, a ship hull having rear marine propulsion and steering means, a hydrofoil mounted on the bottom of the aft portion of the hull and having a forwardly inclined bottom surface located below the bottom of the hull, and an airplane having a fuselage secured and mounted on top ofthe forward portion ofthe hull for propelling the ship and lifting the forward end of the hull, said hull exwte-nding a considerable distance rearwardly of the airplane and having a maximum Width substantially approximating the wing span of the airplane, a horizontal turntable rotatably mounted on a vertical axis upon the forward portion of the' hulL saidairplane being fixed on said turntable iorrotation therewith relative to the hull to aid in maneuvering the latter.

' :2. -2A:.shipcomprising, combination, .a ship andzsa horizonta'l turntable rotatably mounted on a vertical axis upon the forward portion :ofthe hu lilnsa 'id :ainplaz'ner :being fzfixedaon said turntable finrsrotartion therewithlirelatiue itoi't-he' hull to -=aid in :.mam1euvermg I ithei latter.

v #JAMESTEySYKES. 

